My siblings and I came to visit my cousin and her husband from Chicago, and decided to dine in at…read moreBestia on Saturday night, September 6th! For all of us it was our first time at Bestia, they picked the restaurant and glad to say it was a great pick! Everyone enjoyed our time here together for the first time. The experience was amazing from the welcoming of our waitress and the detailed menu descriptions she gave to fun fact about the name of the restaurant! The restaurant was well lit and sounded like everyone was having a great time, laughing and catching up with one another! As well as the staff helping each other out and making sure everyone was satisfied! Angelica, our waitress, was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, as well as the rest of the staff! She helped us pick our entrees and appetizers as well. Angelica made sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal from making sure our drinks were refilled or bringing another round of drinks, to bringing clean plates for every entree we received! The bone marrow and branzino was definitely a 100/10, my brother who hates fish actually tried it and loved it! The bone marrow left everyone at the table speechless! Thank you to everyone at Bestia, especially our waitress, Angelica, for a wonderful dinner!

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Bestia... it's one of the top Italian restaurants in…read moreLos Angeles, HANDS DOWN. Every time I eat here, I am already thinking of my next time back. I love their pastas to the moon and back, they are al dente but not too firm, the sauces are so good and flavorful, and each bite just makes me want to take the next bite. My favorite pastas: 1. Squid Ink Spaghetti - lobster. serrano. meyer lemon. micro shiso 2. Cavatelli alla Norcina - ricotta dumplings. pork sausage fresh thyme. shaved truffles Their appetizers are also really great, the grilled prawns are SO good, you can taste the sweetness of the prawn and the sauce doesn't overwhelm it. For entrees, their ribeye and porkchop are our favorites. The ribeye is so tender and cooked to perfection. The pork chops are juicy and not dry at all. SERVICE // is usually good, although our last time our server wasn't really around much and didn't even introduce any dishes to us. We thought hopefully that it was a fluke. AMBIANCE // romantic and beautiful interior, Bestia is in the arts district of Downtown Los Angeles. PARKING // Valet parking is available for $15, otherwise you can look for street parking nearby. If you haven't made your way to Bestia yet, you must!! It's not the cheapest meal in town but well worth the $$$.

Get the chicken cannelloni. It was probably the best thing I've eaten all month…read more This place is a little tricky to find, but so worth it. We got a mix of tapas (no main dish proteins), both seafood and land treasures. The best bites were the dates and the cannelloni. I loved the lamb meatballs, too. I'm usually a seafood girl, but I think the land stuff won. The octopus was yummy (S/O loooved it) but the gambas al ajillo was better; I'd still pick the cannelloni over everything. Drinks were great and inventive. Service was a bit slow, but that's cause it was the end of the night and we were sitting in the bartender's section (and he was flying solo with both drinks and tables). A great date night spot. I would come again, and maybe try one of their steaks next time!

Had dinner at VACA DTLA and overall had a great experience. The service was excellent, the prices…read morewere very reasonable, and everything we ordered was on point. The only minor issue was that there were quite a few flies inside the restaurant. However, considering the location and the warm weather, I understand that it may be difficult to completely keep them away. Overall, it was a great dining experience, and I would definitely come back!

Korean-Italian fusion cuisine in a prime location at the center of ktla. Unique pasta dishes that…read morefused traditional Korean spice to give it a slight Asian flavor. Wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Portion sizes were small which allowed us to try a few different dishes. Galbi JJim pasta is a savory Galbi flavoring with Galbi strips, slightly sweet (as expected with Galbi), marinating deeply in the radiatore pasta which held the sauce well with each bite. Good pasta and a must try. Perilla leaf pesto: Garganelli pasta immersed in a perilla leaf herbal flavoring (very light and almost in distinct), small bites of snap peas (adds a crunch to each bite), and pine nuts with the latter adding a wonderful nuttiness (The pine nuts made the dish). This dish was fair and I would recommend ordering to share for the table. Very different flavoring from any other pastas I've tried and worth tasting. The little gem salad was refreshing. Fresh crisp lettuce with Caesar and generous amount of parmesan. For this dish they added doenjang 된장 sprinkles which added a pleasantly interesting and flavorful aroma. Doenjang is a traditional Korean spice that is loved by generations of Koreans but not one that is readily appreciated around the world . However this add on to the salad was tastefully done and very good. This was my favorite. Overall small intimate Korean Italian fusion restaurant. Would recommend!

Lapaba is owned and partnered by famous restauranteurs Nancy Silverton, Tanya/Joe Bastianich, and…read moreRobert Kim and led by husband-wife chef McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim who met at Osteria Mozza. Lapaba certainly flexes its expertise in Italian cuisine, however as many other reviewers have pointed out, the menu offerings and execution misses the mark of Italian-Korean fusion. I loved the open kitchen concept and the long bar seating. Our server for the night was not the warmest person nor cared for whether we were enjoying our experience but was otherwise attentive. We were somewhat disappointed to find that all their cocktails were exclusively soju based without any information about their source and were relatively simple. I got G-ma's Boricha which I felt was very mild in flavor from both the soju and barley tea perspective. Starters: 1) The milk bread had a great crust and soft inner texture. The choice of black garlic and honey buckwheat for the butters hit the Korean fusion goal. 2) The scallion pajeon was probably my favorite dish of the night with a crispy texture contrasted with the creamy and savory leek fondue. Pastas: 1) The radiatori and galbi jim was probably my least favorite dish. The pasta overcooked, the texture of the meat did not feel like short ribs, and the addition of red wine made the ragu nowhere near reminiscent of the sweet and rich flavor of galbi jim. 2) The agnolotti and cheesy corn was delicious in its own right (can't go wrong with brown butter), but that gooey melted mozzarella we're used to seeing in the popular Korean BBQ side dish was missing among the pool of melted butter fat. 3) The orecchiette and sausage was my second favorite dish of the night and probably captured the essence of Italian-Korean fusion the best. Dessert: I was extremely excited to try the tiramisu-garu but felt like I could not taste the misugaru nor makgeolli at all (understandably the former is pretty light in flavor to begin with). Rather, I was getting mostly the powdery black matcha flavor with every bite. I think incorporating more misugaru (or entirely switching to injeolmi - a more flavorful, sweet, and nutty powder) as the egg yolks are double boiled and then folded into the whipped mascarpone and cream could potentially add the flavor I was craving for in this dish.

This is a review of my experience from April 2026 not long after they opened and since then Lielle…read morehas (rightfully) exploded in popularity and been awarded a Michelin star in its first year. While the tasting menu is a tight four courses, a huge amount of detail goes into every element that goes on each plate - and you do have the opportunity to opt for specials. The whole vibe is quietly competent, with all the servers being totally well versed in the provenance of all the ingredients. One of our courses was actually served to us by chef Jernmark himself. The restaurant is dim and tables are fairly close in with each other, sort of gives a jazz supper club feel without the live music. Definitely the kind of spot you can do some surreptitious people watching - we spotted more than one Hollywood/music A-lister.

First things first, this restaurant is in a location on Pico Blvd, in which many restaurants have…read moremade a name for themselves, yet disappeared after seeming success. You'll want to head DOWNSTAIRS (on the right) to Lielle, instead up the stairs from the street, which leads to their sister restaurant (we made this mistake, oops!) Upon coming in, the small dining room was energetic with rock bangers from all eras. A small 4-5 person bar sits next to the open kitchen and small dining room. There might be enough tables for 40-50 people which explains why reservations close out quickly when they become available. However, DO suggest getting yourself on the waitlist. We were surprised to be moved off the waitlist a week beforehand. I hope this will be true for you as well. Okay, so the bar is focused mostly on wines, it is certainly not the most expansive you'll ever find, but that's not to say it's small either, from my purusing, the bottles all seem to have a lot of curation. There was also an informal wine pairing which we elected, and our group ended up very surprised at both how well the wines paired, but more importantly how delicious and out of the ordinary the choices were. Eyebrows were raised, glasses swirled and palates were delighted. The food? French, Californian, with Japanese/Asian influences. The complexity of these dishes is what is bringing all the diners here: beautifully assembled dishes with highest quality, seasonal ingredients. i'm not sure what my review can add here that others haven't already said. We did try all the extras, and I'll say each is individually worth the splurge: Adding Santa Barbara uni to BBQ monkfish? If it's fall, late summer, you're getting the sea urchin in their prime, most ready-to-reproduce state. The unctuous oceaniness with the foam emulsion on the dish was an utter delight and flavor bomb. This was my favorite dish of the night. Lobster agnolotti: easiest to recommend as a high value addition to the standard course, very sharable, and memorable combination of buttery lobstah with umami-rich pasta pillows. Caviar: though small, we split this four ways, and it was no issue, but individually rec'd if you're treating yourself. Dish is beautifully executed, like a chawanmushi with caviar and other wondeful suprises. Be carefully your eyes don't roll up and get stuck in the back of your head. Bread courses and dessert courses show off some well-honed baking skills, but definitely let servers know if you're a non-gluten person. Even the carb-adverse ought to find these worth the indulgence. So in summary, superb preparations and plating with service to match but also without the pretense. It's an impressive vibe they've managed to pull off. Great for anyone who wants a fine dining experience with a manageable number of superbly-executed courses. Just be sure to give the waitlist a shot if you can't make it as soon as reservations are released. Really the only thing I'd change is the valet situation; they ask you to valet with the hotel nearby, where the two restaurants could share valet service for those who want to use it. Looking forward to coming back for a winter and a spring menu.

We drove so far to eat here. At first I was skeptical because the bar would have to be really high…read moreto make 1+ hour of driving worth it. Surprisingly, the food here actually surpassed my expectations. If you love Japanese food, you have to try the food here. Dishes were almost on par with fine dining, but at lower costs. My favorite items were the fish tempura, scallops, and uni with sweet potato. Everything was delicious, and reminded me of being in Japan. The only thing that was a little inconvenient was the parking. It's street parking, no parking lot or valet available. The restaurant is tiny so make sure you make reservations in advance, unless you come here outside of regular dining hours. The interior is very simple, so if you are looking for somewhere fancy looking, this is not it.

Ine modern casual Japanese food along the popular York Blvd in Highland Park. I've driven by here a…read moremillion times so it was about time I tried this place! This spot is a bit pricier, so a dinner for two would be something to treat yourself to. Loved how they have a wide selection of fresh sushi hand rolls, nigiri, and entrees. During a warm summer evening back in the beginning of June, we had a glass of white wine to pair with our meal. We loved their crispy little hand roll appetizers. The sauce on their scallop entree was just flavorful and divine. Loved how they had their nigiri on a ceramic serving spoon to eat cleanly. And their fish entree (was it a halibut or white fish?) was just perfectly cooked with great flavors and texture and crunch of the little corns and veggies they added on top. Overall, the flavors here are great. Could be a bit of fine dining experience made more casual. They were a bit busy when we came for a walk up but they were able to seat us in the back near the kitchen hallway (the waitress so kindly was always near us lol). Overall it's a cool spot, classic HLP cool dining ambiance, lots of staff and can see the chefs cooking behind the bar. Since it is a bit pricey don't think I would go here regularly, but their cooking and flavors were nice and fresh and fulfilled our craving.

We came here before our Cento Pasta reservation for drinks and appetizers. Honestly I was not…read moreexpecting the food to be amazing since I just came for the vibes but the tuna summer salad was SOOO DELICIOUS. Wow the flavor combination was insane, and it was different than other tuna salads I've had. I highly recommend trying it. We also got two drinks which were deliciouss!! Pro tip: I really recommend coming here for drinks and light app and then trying the Cento Pasta bar since the food there was amazing as well. Side note: they were super amazing and allowed us to bring our drinks over to the Cento pasta bar next door for our reservation.

Man I miss LA and it's good to be back. We got reservations here over the weekend and got seated…read moreright away by the table along the wall right by the bar. The three of us ordered seafood tower, pomodoro pasta, arugula and date salad, and the curry branzino. Let me rate each dish. Arugula and date salad - good flavor, would get again. 4/5 Pomodoro pasta - it was good. A bit too saucy for me, kind of basic 3/5 Curry branzino - whole fish, good, strong curry flavor, would like it with rice (sorry not sorry I'm Asian) - 4/5 Seafood tower - overall 4/5 -In order of best to worst. Uni - standout, good flavor, fresh tasting 5/5. Scallop - really good, sweet sauce 4/5. Oysters - fresh, good but standard 4/5. Crab legs - a bit dry, dip in sauce 3/5. Prawns - suuuuper salty 1/5. We didn't eat the last one and let the waiter know. We asked if we can sub it for another scallop. He talked to the chef and they were gracious enough to make it happen. Parking is hard to find but there's valet out front for $12. Place was viby. At 5:30pm on a Friday night the crowd was just starting to pick up--by the time we left the whole place was buzzing. Lots of girls dressed up and took pictures around the place. Bathroom felt like a cave.

Every visit here is an unforgettable experience. From the food and service to the overall…read moreatmosphere, everything reflects an exceptional level of quality. The service team is incredibly professional, attentive, and detail-oriented. With plenty of staff available, they are always paying attention to guests and making sure everyone feels well taken care of. Every dish is full of surprises, with amazing flavors and beautiful presentation. The restaurant itself is elegant, clean, and comfortable, and combined with the outstanding service, it creates a dining experience that is truly worth recommending. This is definitely a place I would love to come back to again.

One of very few elite dining spots in the heart of LA. Only 14 seatings per night so you can…read moreimagine how difficult securing a reservation could be. Still cannot believe we were able to join the small community of people that had the honor to experience the artistry of chef Aitor Zabala and his remarkable team. Somni presents a 24-course, carefully curated tasting menu. Only one seating per night and dinner usually runs about four hours long. Doors open right at 7:30 pm and you are seated in the garden where you will receive a welcome drink (Tokyo fizz which is a Japanese sake/yuzu cocktail) and about 6 small bites that range from sweet to savory. This allows us to sit and relax for about 20 minutes before being escorted into the main dining hall. Dinner is served from a counter top so you have the opportunity to watch each dish come to creation. I personally love this interaction. You are served about 12 main courses expertly composed with Iberico pork, Dungeness crab, mussels, Chutoro and Bone marrow, beef tartare, and fresh garden herbs & botanical elements. My top FAVORITES were the Shiso puff tartare (Best dish hands down), Gazpacho blanco, and the Iberico pork. Very filling. Finally, dinner concludes with tea/coffee and 6 small bites of fruity gel, choc donut, and sorbet. Each course captivates your senses with its vibrant presentation, alluring aromatics, complex textures, and remarkable depth of flavors. Every bite was unique and lingered beautifully on the palate. Would love to come back again. Curious to try their fall and winter menu. Without a doubt, Somni is deserving of each of their stars

This is a gem in the arts district. Bianca Sicilian is absolutely incredible…read more To start- they have a huge patio. So nice to sit outside on a summer evening and enjoy the sound of the fountain and lights. Service is great. Very attentive. Changing plates and silverware for each course. When they didn't have the wine I ordered, they brought out two others for me to taste. (Note- no hard liquor here) Now on to the best part. The food!! Wow. I would come back over and over for the buccatini in a nest. The flavors are incredible. The pizza with the in house made cheese- excellent. And the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. Great for a couple or large groups. Highly recommend.

Service: Really nice service, I would say 5/5. The staff kept checking in and water was refilled…read morepretty quickly. Ambiance: A romantic, nice ambiance actually. Surprising given their location but they made you feel like you were in a patio space and not next to a random dog park in Arts district. Food: Unfortunately here is where it gets tricky. The octopus was pretty solid but for the price, much smaller than I expected. The pizza was good, would recommend! The shrimp pasta was actually too pistachio than I preferred but feel free to get it if you really like pistachio as a flavor!